ORE HILL - Officials of the Iron Masters Ladies Classic aren't going to change the name of the event anytime soon, but, based on recent history, they might consider doing something to honor Barb Pagana and Patty Lang.
Pagana and Lang captured their third championship in the past four years Tuesday afternoon at the Iron Masters Country Club.
The Pagana-Lang team posted a two-day score of 144 to win the championship flight by two strokes over Patti Nelis and Carolyn Thompson. Robin Craig and Danielle Mitchell finished third, three strokes back at 147.
Article Photos
Mirror photo by J.D. Cavrich
Barb Pagana chips onto the 14th green at Iron Masters.
Pagana and Lang are from opposite ends of the state - the former from Selinsgrove and the latter from Meadville - and Iron Masters is the only time the golfing veterans team up all season.
Lang has been playing 50 years, Pagana 30. They became friends through the state's women's golf association and also played various tournaments in Florida.
"It's a good place to meet and get together for a few days and play golf," Lang said of the Iron Masters tournament.
"We're always pretty competitive," Pagana understated.
The duo shot a round of 69 in the best-ball event Monday, while Nelis and Thompson checked in with a 71 on the first day. Both teams carded 75s on Tuesday. Nelis and Thompson shot a 36 on the front nine Tuesday to pull within one shot of the lead, but Pagana and Lang were one better - 38-39 - on the back nine.
"It was a struggle," Lang said, laughing, when asked about Tuesday's round. "Neither one of us hit it out of the fairway, but we couldn't do anything around the greens. We just struggled all day. We made a lot of pars but didn't make a lot of birdies."
Actually, they made two birds Tuesday - a 3 on No. 8 and a 4 on No. 12.
"We had six birdies and three bogies Monday," Pagana said. "Things just seemed to be a lot easier yesterday. Today was just difficult. Everything was difficult."
The recent heat was not a factor, Pagana said.
"We love it warm," she said. "We always love coming here to play. The greens were a little more challenging this year. They were a little slower than they've usually been, but the course played very nicely for as much rain as we've had."
"The combination of the heat and rain made the greens slower," Lang said, "and I had trouble adjusting. You'd think for as long as I've played golf I wouldn't have."
Pagana is a bookkeeper in Selinsgrove for her husband and daughter, who have a medical practice. Lang describes herself as a housewife, wife and grandmother who has a nice retired life.
For the rest of the summer, Lang said she'll do some traveling with her family and also play in the state women's tournament senior division in Pittsburgh. Pagana will play in the North-South seniors event at Pinehurst, N.C. and the Eastern Seniors in South Carolina.
"We both love to play golf," Lang said. "Tom [Iron Masters pro Tom Koehle] has really brought up the level of the tournament here."
"We look forward to coming here every year," Pagana added.
Championship Flight
1, Barb Pagana, Patti Lang, 144; 2, Patti Nelis, Carolyn Thompson, 146; 3, Robin Craig, Danielle Mitchell, 147; 4, Darlene Grove, Michelle Day, 155; 5, Ellen Frank, Deb Novack, 157; 6, Cathy Traister, Beth Emert, 158; T-7, Anita Jo Petrusky, Deb Long, 159; T-7, Kate Conway, Suz Price, 159; 9, Beth Lunger, Merri Walters, 164; 10, Barb Fiore, Elaine Magee, 166.
First Flight
1, Barb Eckroth, Jan Peckich, 158; 2, Beth Alwine, Joan Flinko, 159; 3, Judy Kochman, Cathy Bloom, 160; 4, Joanne VanSaun, Margaret Lunger, 160; 5, Gwen Paden, Patti Dodson, 161; 6, Janice Evans, Shelly Stallsmith, 166; T-7, Connie Bolger, Denise Kelly, 167; T-7, Donna Morgan Cindy Vaughn, 167; T-9, Deb Showalter, Wava Baer, 171; T-9, Peg Bryant, Sara Proctor, 171; 11, Becky Smith, Brenda Kaylor, 173.
Second Flight
1, Jess Kline, Pat Noble, 166 (playoff);2, Paula Bauer, Carolyn Karge, 166; 3, Jane Shaffer, Susan Haag, 171 (on No. 8); 4, Sandy Hassinger, Jenn Johnston, 171; T-5, Jancie Paull, 171; T-5, Beth Steffy, Sandy Rishell, 171; 7, Ann Anderson, Ginny Kepler, 179; 8, Jill Hileman, Cindy Trimarco, 181
Third Flight
1, Terry Wise, Mary Anny Yonchiuk, 173; 2, Ruby Carman, Mary Beth Guyette, 174; 3, Lana Phillipi, Ann Harbaugh, 175; 4, Dana Yakimczyk, Deb Goodman, 175; 5, Loane Maier, Anna Myers, 175; 6, Jane Koss, Sue Cortright, 177; T-7, Kathy Bottenfield, Linda Wise, 178; T-7, Nancy Moore, Sylvia Schraff, 178; 9, Sandy Nypaver, Jessica Genter, 182; 10, Tillo Brendle-Ratcliff, Cathy Wreski, 186; 11, Georgie Myers, Val Patrick, 190; 12, JoEllyn Flynn, Kathlenn Kopchik, 193
Fourth Flight
1, Alice Knowles, Marilyn Knowles, 186; 2, Sherran Allhouse, Babe Horning, 190; 3, Deb Shaffer, Dorice Tharp, 191; 4, Nancy Moskel, Carol Lucas, 194; T-5, Nancy Gallagher, Sue Suehr, 202; T-5, Olga Romerowicz, Carol Young, 202; 7, Kathy Train, Ella Heckert, 212
